Special to IFN
Each year, departments within Iredell Health System can apply for grants through the Grateful Patients and Families Fund, which is managed by the Iredell Health Foundation.
This fund was created to meet unmet patient needs throughout the health system. Past grant funds have helped provide blanket warmers in radiation therapy and wound care, food, medications, and living situation enhancements.
This year five projects were awarded grants:
Dressed for Discharge
Last year, Care Transitions was awarded a grant to create a clothing closet at Iredell Memorial Hospital. This closet provides clothing for patients who otherwise would go home in paper scrubs as their clothing is soiled or damaged and unable to be worn home. This program served 51 patients last year at Iredell Memorial Hospital and, through this year’s grant, will be expanded to serve patients at
Iredell Davis Behavioral Health Hospital.
SPARK – The Power of Prevention
The Iredell Wellness and Diabetes Center strives to be the hands and feet of our mission to Inspire Wellbeing — Together. Their objective is to keep people healthy and avoid chronic health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and stroke. The wellness team was awarded a grant to purchase engaging, interactive health education tools to get the community’s attention and spark behavior change and healthy lifestyle changes.
Enhancing Patient Experience through Recreational Therapy
Recreational therapy plays a pivotal role in enhancing the physical, emotional, and social wellbeing of patients by offering therapeutic activities that promote recovery, skill building, and stress relief. As a grant recipient, Iredell Davis Behavioral Health Hospital recreational therapists and patients now have the equipment they need to make a meaningful impact. This grant covers arts and crafts, creative expression, sports and fitness activities, mindfulness practices, and social interaction groups. Recreational therapy is a proven practice that promotes better recovery outcomes.
Grieving Baskets for Comfort Care
One of Iredell Health System’s core values is compassion, and this project is a perfect example of this. Grant funding will provide items to make 20 grieving baskets for families of patients that are experiencing loss at Iredell Memorial Hospital. Items may include essential oil diffusers, blankets, books for children, mugs, and journals.
Point of Care Ultrasound Training
Iredell Health Graduate Medical Education welcomed its inaugural class of internal medicine residents this year. Grant funding will provide ultrasound training for these resident physicians, giving them the ability to more easily and accurately conduct physical assessments of the patients at the bedside in a noninvasive, cost-effective way. This will ultimately improve patient outcomes and satisfaction.
Toy and Comfort Item Closet
Children and those suffering from dementia who visit the hospital can experience fear and confusion. The Iredell Health Volunteers, with the help of grant funding, are implementing a toy and comfort item closet to ease the worries of this vulnerable population with a personal touch. Items such as dolls are shown to provide calming and reassurance to patients with dementia, creating a more positive and safer experience for both patients and staff. Providing toys to pediatric patients can improve the trust and relationship between the child and caregiver.
These incredible projects would not have been possible without the generosity of patients and their families.
Would you like to contribute to the wellbeing of our community?
Consider donating to the Grateful Patient and Families Fund through the Iredell Health Foundation. All donations are tax-deductible. Visit iredellhealthfoundation.org or call 704-878-7669.
About Iredell Health System
Iredell Health System includes Iredell Memorial Hospital; Iredell Davis Medical Center; Iredell Davis Behavioral Health Hospital; Iredell Mooresville; Iredell Home Health; Iredell Wound Care & Hyperbaric Center; Community and Corporate Wellness; Occupational Medicine; the Iredell Physician Network and more. Iredell Memorial Hospital is the largest nonprofit hospital in Iredell County. The comprehensive healthcare organization has 391 licensed beds; more than 2,000 employees; and has approximately 365 healthcare providers representing various specialties. Centers of excellence include Women’s and Children’s; Cardiovascular; Cancer; Surgical Services and Wellness & Prevention. The health system’s Iredell Mooresville campus is home to the area’s only 24-hour urgent care facility, as well as an ambulatory surgery center, imaging center, rehabilitation services, and physician practices. The mission of Iredell Health System is to inspire wellbeing. For a comprehensive list of services and programs, visit www.iredellhealth.org.